Former pot user cautions smokers on risks of marijuana

As Canada approaches its first month of marijuana being legalized, a former pot user is asking Canadians to err on the side of caution before sparking up.

“It has a great kickstart, it commences at a beautiful level, but it becomes highly addictive,” says 42-year-old Raza Butt. The man originally from Toronto, checked himself into the Thousand Islands Wellness and Treatment Centre near Gananoque, Ont., before legalization day.

He began smoking marijuana in his late 30s when illegal pot dispensaries began popping up all over Toronto.

“They can’t function without it, they can’t go to work, they can’t go to the grocery store. They have to smoke to be able to function,” says Fagan.

While there are arguments from both sides — one claiming pot isn’t addictive — others saying it is, Kimberly Mask, an addictions counselor at the centre, says the feelings their patients have are common with people who feel they need pot.

“They feel like that’s their normal state of functioning, so their brain chemistry is actually changed and that has become their normal,” says Mask.

The use of cannabis has been shown to provide therapeutic effects to help treat chronic pain, nausea and anxiety.

Studies have also shown that the dependence for marijuana is lower than alcohol, cocaine and opiates.

Mask says their concern is that people should educate themselves of the potential risks with the use of marijuana.

Sign up for our Cannabis IQ newsletter

The administration of the site does not bear responsibility for the materials published on the site. The author of the material is globalnews.ca. The material available by this link , or was available 2018-11-09 01:26:55 of the time